4 - Ronald Araújo

[Loki]

do we really want him long term? Araujo or money, what is truly best for us?

Depends on what kind of salary he will demand to extend. Cubarsi looks like he's gonna break even or even overtake him soon. So if we offer a big contract to him, then what will Cubarsi demand in the next extension? Laporta needs to hold on to his carefully built wage structure.
So if Araujo will demand a huge salary, it'll be better to sell him in the summer. If he agrees to the team's structure around €6m net, keep him obviously.

 

[Andresito]

Depends on what kind of salary he will demand to extend. Cubarsi looks like he's gonna break even or even overtake him soon. So if we offer a big contract to him, then what will Cubarsi demand in the next extension? Laporta needs to hold on to his carefully built wage structure.
So if Araujo will demand a huge salary, it'll be better to sell him in the summer. If he agrees to the team's structure around €6m net, keep him obviously.

I don't really have a problem with him being best paid CB and that Cubarsi comes close to that. As long as he is a sure starter for us which includes being fit. Kounde is also on a big wage but I haven't seen that come up even once because he is a mainstay in XI. Nobody going to complain about Araujo's wages if he proves to be a reliable player.

Of course every renewal shouldn't be same percentage increase everytime. Cubarsi and Yamal will get big boosts now and likely one more huge boost, but other than that there should be a clear structure.

 

[malvolio]

Looks like Araujo is staying and renewing anyway, but VVD is at worst a top three CB in the world, a model professional and a leader.

How is that a washed up player?

Why saddle ourselves with a 34 year old CB?

Lewa was also a model professional.

 

[Temptation]

Will his weaknesses on the ball be an issue in Flick's high line system?


Both Cubarsi and Inigo are outstanding on the ball which is why many fans haven't even noticed some of the difficult situations they handle with ease.


Teams will definitely target Araujo's lack of ability on the ball and it could be a problem in this system. Surprised Barca fans don't question his ability on the ball much. He's the opposite of a traditional Barca defender.

 

[Titan98]

Depends on what kind of salary he will demand to extend. Cubarsi looks like he's gonna break even or even overtake him soon. So if we offer a big contract to him, then what will Cubarsi demand in the next extension? Laporta needs to hold on to his carefully built wage structure.
So if Araujo will demand a huge salary, it'll be better to sell him in the summer. If he agrees to the team's structure around €6m net, keep him obviously.

I think araujo wouldn‘t have a problem with 6 mil net cause für example kounde as best paid defender just gets 6,5 mil net.
The Problem was, i think, that they didn‘t want to give him a kounde contract. And i think he should earn as much as kounde.

If araujo stays healthy he is one of the best defenders out there. He is also way better in defending than cubarsi and has a much better physique. We should stop to overhype cubarsi, he needs a fast and strong partner next to him. To compare him with umtiti is bad, umtiti was good in one of the best teams ever existing (barca 2015, france 2018) but as soon as the quality of his teampartner sunk, he was bad too, healthy or not.
Araujo was the best player in the team when it plays worst during 2021, 2022. and dont say we won la liga, it means nothing if you are ba in UCL.

I also think it is ok to let him go for 50+ but if there is a chance to renew under good conditions, we have to do it and we couldn‘t let him go this winter with inigo injured, cause with garcia we would not get through the next round of UCL

 

[DonAK]

Why saddle ourselves with a 34 year old CB?

Lewa was also a model professional.

CBs do usually age better than strikers though. Or at least don’t decline in a way where they are a hindrance.

But with Araujo probably renewing it doesn’t matter anyway.

 

[Titan98]

Will his weaknesses on the ball be an issue in Flick's high line system?


Both Cubarsi and Inigo are outstanding on the ball which is why many fans haven't even noticed some of the difficult situations they handle with ease.


Teams will definitely target Araujo's lack of ability on the ball and it could be a problem in this system. Surprised Barca fans don't question his ability on the ball much. He's the opposite of a traditional Barca defender.

A traditional barca defender (after 2015) is just a bad defender. We don’t need guys who are perfekt on the ball, we need guys like araujo who can defend.

 

[Temptation]

CBs do usually age better than strikers though. Or at least don’t decline in a way where they are a hindrance.

But with Araujo probably renewing it doesn’t matter anyway.

Really? Do they?


Which CBs aged well in modern Football? Chiellini and Silva come to mind.


Many CFs aged well in modern Football. RL9, Benzema, Suarez, Zlatan, Dzeko, Giroud aged well.

 

[Temptation]

A traditional barca defender (after 2015) is just a bad defender. We don’t need guys who are perfekt on the ball, we need guys like araujo who can defend.

Araujo is prone to brainfarts and dumb decision-making though.

It's not like he's perfect defensively. Yes, he's tall, strong, fast, brave and outstanding 1 v 1 but there are certain tactical and mental flaws in his game.

On the other hand, he's still young and can improve on the decision making and defensive IQ side of things.

 

[El Ilusionista]

Really? Do they?


Which CBs aged well in modern Football? Chiellini and Silva come to mind.


Many CFs aged well in modern Football. RL9, Benzema, Suarez, Zlatan, Dzeko, Giroud aged well.

Suarez never aged well he was done aged 30/31 in 2018.

 

[Temptation]

Suarez never aged well he was done aged 30/31 in 2018.

Fair enough. He still did well for ATM in La Liga.


Sure, his inclusion on my list is debatable but even if you take Suarez out, I do have a point here........

 

[Porque]

Really? Do they?


Which CBs aged well in modern Football? Chiellini and Silva come to mind.


Many CFs aged well in modern Football. RL9, Benzema, Suarez, Zlatan, Dzeko, Giroud aged well.

How do you think Van Dijk will age? Would he suit the Flick highline.

Personally I would love to go for him for 2/3 years and pair him with Cubarsi. Let the kid learn from one of the best.

Inigo has been at a very high level despite never being a truly world class level, and given the template of what we can achieve.

 

[Temptation]

How do you think Van Dijk will age?

Amazingly well without injuries.

Would he suit the Flick highline.

Obviously. He's the master of that. Under Klopp we mostly defended on the halfway line. Ridiculous high line with offensive flying full backs on both sides. VVD made that system possible and made it look piss easy.

Personally I would love to go for him for 2/3 years and pair him with Cubarsi. Let the kid learn from one of the best.

Inigo has been at a very high level despite never being a truly world class level, and given the template of what we can achieve.

The best thing about VVD is that he can elevate an entire defense on his own. He made Lovren, Matip, Gomez, Konate look world class. Matip was quality and Konate is almost world class now, don't get me wrong.

His defensive IQ, positioning, leadership and calmness is amazing.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1879200554003689478

 

[-_- RandomUser -_-]

I hope he stays and receives a salary raise that matches the team's top players. Some people act as if they’ve never had real-world work experience. You can’t blame Araújo for wanting better compensation when he sees others on the team, who contribute less, earning significantly more. Also, after all these years following football, you should know better than to trust random rumors from unreliable sources.

 

[FCBarca]

Fortunately, the Rosell/Bartomeu era is dead & buried as we are not Chelsea to merely create a factory geared towards player sales/profits

If we’re going into a football battle, absolutely I want Araujo on my side

This is Laporta era, we are building a champ for the next decade & beyond - bedrock of La Masia, coupled to WC specialists from around the globe